HARRISBURG -- A Jonesboro man who police said shot and beat a Poinsett County couple to death in 2012 pleaded guilty to two murder charges Tuesday as attorneys began selecting jurors for his trial.
John Anthony Arnoult, 29, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the Sept. 2, 2012, death of Constance "Connie" Cole, 56, of Trumann and second-degree murder in the slaying of John Poff, 57, of Trumann.
Poinsett County Circuit Judge David Laser sentenced Arnoult to 40 years in prison for killing Cole and 20 years in prison for Poff's slaying.
The two sentences will run concurrently, Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington said.
Police found the two victims inside Poff's mobile home in Trumann after a trailer-park maintenance man checked on Poff in response to neighbors who reported hearing gunshots. The two died of .40-caliber gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma.
Ellington said Arnoult entered the plea after Laser ruled on several pretrial defense motions and just before attorneys began seating a jury.
"I think we had a good resolution to the case," Ellington said.
Public defenders Joseph Perry of Marianna and Danny Glover of Forrest City defended Arnoult. Messages left for them Tuesday were not immediately returned.
State Desk on 12/17/2014